A Bengaluru commercial court has temporarily restrained hyperlocal news startup Way2News from using confidential information and intellectual property belonging to AppsForBharat, the operator of spiritual tech platform Sri Mandir.

The court passed the ad-interim ex parte injunction on Thursday (September 10) in a commercial suit filed by AppsForBharat against Way2News and its former employee Shivam Kumar Singh.

The order restrains Way2News, its directors, employees, agents, and others acting on its behalf from using AppsForBharat’s confidential information, intellectual property, and other data allegedly received from Singh until the next hearing.

Since the order was passed ex parte, Way2News and Singh were not heard before the interim relief was granted.

Inc42 has reached out to AppsForBharat and Way2News for comments on the development. The story will be updated on receiving a response.

What AppsForBharat Has Alleged 

According to court filings accessed by Inc42, Singh worked as a senior operations associate at AppsForBharat and was involved in coordinating with priests and temples and managing on-ground pooja operations.

He resigned on August 3, 2026, citing “personal exigencies”, and his last working day was August 7.

AppsForBharat alleged that one of its employees received a request from Singh on August 25 seeking access to the startup’s Google Drive. The request was allegedly sent using a Way2News email address, prompting AppsForBharat to launch an internal investigation.

The startup claimed the drive contained videos, marketing material, operational information, financial data, and details of suppliers and customers.

AppsForBharat further alleged that Singh joined Way2News in violation of the non-compete provision in his employment agreement and shared its confidential information with the platform. 

It also accused Way2News’ spiritual tech platform Veda Mandir of publishing promotional videos identical to marketing material created by Sri Mandir.

AppsForBharat also accused Way2News of approaching its employees and customers and sought separate ex parte injunctions against such solicitation. However, the court declined to grant these two injunctions without hearing the defendants and issued notices to them instead.

The current injunction is limited to Way2News’ alleged use of AppsForBharat’s confidential information. The interim order does not constitute a final finding of data theft or copyright infringement.

AppsForBharat Seeks ₹1 Cr

AppsForBharat has sought ₹1 Cr in compensation for alleged losses and contractual breaches. It has also sought the return of its confidential material, permanent injunctions against its misuse and the solicitation of employees and customers, and an account of revenue generated through its alleged unauthorised use.

Founded in 2020 by Prashant Sachan, AppsForBharat’s Sri Mandir app enables users to book online pujas and offerings, receive prasad, and access devotional content.

In July 2025, AppsForBharat raised ₹175 Cr in a Series C round led by Susquehanna Asia VC. It has raised about $65 Mn to date.

Meanwhile, Way2News was founded in 2015 by Raju Vanapala. It primarily offers short-format hyperlocal news in vernacular languages. It later entered spiritual tech with Veda Mandir, which facilitates pooja, chadhava, and daan offerings at temples.

The startup raised $14 Mn in a WestBridge Capital-led Series B round in 2024 and has raised nearly $30 Mn to date.

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